NIR Bitton enjoyed another 90 minutes of competitive football on Wednesday night as he helped the Hoops see off FK Sarajevo and book their place in the second qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League.

Next up for Neil Lennon’s side is Nomme Kalju of Estonia, with the first leg at home this coming Wednesday (July 24), and the Israeli internationalist, who has slotted into central defence at the start of this season, is ready to play his part again should he be called upon.

“My aims coming into this season are to play as many games as I can for Celtic,” Bitton told this week’s Celtic View. “I want to win trophies and try to help the team win. Every single minute I get the chance to play, I’ll try to do my best for the team, the fans and my family. Celtic is a massive club and this club has given me a lot, so I want to repay that in any way I can.

“It’s always good being able to play in a few different positions. It’s always good for the manager to have players like that. I don’t mind playing centre-mid or centre-back, wherever the gaffer wants me to play I’ll play and try to do my best. When you can show your worth in multiple positions then you have a greater chance to play. I’m not thinking too much about where I play, only that I can help the team.”

Injury kept Bitton out of football for almost a year but now he is back and enjoying a spell of playing regularly under Neil Lennon. His appreciation has become more poignant following his injury torment and he has become aware of seeing life from a different perspective now that he is back in the thick of it.

“After you go through such a bad injury and it keeps you away from football for such a long time it changes you,” he said. “Right now I can see how it’s changed my thinking and my mentality. Before when I didn’t play I’d feel angry, whereas now I just appreciate every moment.

"I still want to play every game, but now disappointment doesn’t hurt as much because I know it could be a lot worse. I appreciate every moment on the pitch. The most important thing for a professional athlete is to be healthy because if he’s not healthy, he can’t do what he loves.

“I feel like I’m back to my best now and I’m just trying to help the team, play well and we’ll see.”

Read the full and exclusive interview with Nir Bitton ONLY in this week's Celtic View. On sale now.

To download a digital version of the magazine, click on the banner below.

Nir Bitton: I want to play as many games as possible for Celtic